12 March, 2025“You must dismantle patriarchy wherever you are,” sang 350 delegates who participated at the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) women’s national conference in Johannesburg, 7-8 March.
The conference, in which trade union federations, global unions and civil society organizations participated was held under the theme: Working class women advancing socio-economic transformation. The union urged working women to confront and uproot patriarchal systems and practices from the world of work in South Africa. “The NUM continues to promote gender equality, challenge traditional gender roles and is committed to increasing women’s participation,” read some of the resolutions. The participants called upon law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with increasing cases of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Africa Civic Education Foundation (ACEP) which is working with the NUM, an affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union, on a programme to stop GBVF presented grim statistics on rape and sexual assault. ACEP said from October to December 2024 there were 11,803 cases of rape and 2,188 cases of sexual assault that were reported to the South African Police Service.
The unions said although South Africa has laws and policies to stop GBVF, implementation is poor. The laws include the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2007 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1997. South Africa also has a national policy on the prevention of femicide. The policy states that: “Femicide, the killing of women and girls, is the most extreme and severe form of gender-based violence.”
The conference, which was convened by the NUM women’s structure which represents women workers from mining, energy, construction and metal industries, also coincided with the International Women’s Day, which participants celebrated.
The conference agenda included calls for gender equality and diversity, ending gender discrimination, demands for fair wages, protection from unfair labour practices, maternity protection, collective bargaining agreements that included women workers interests, closing the gender pay gap, inclusive skills development and training programmes, leadership training for women in the union, stronger enforcement of employment equity laws, health and safety, social security and revived union organizing and solidarity. The gender dimensions of the future of work, climate change and the Just Transition, were also discussed at the conference.
The participants called for 50 per cent representation of women in the union structures and to provide more training opportunities for women as well a review and update current training programmes.
Magrett Gabanelwe, who was elected chairperson of the NUM women’s structure at the conference, said:
“We remain resolute and united in defending the rights of women in the union and at work. Women continue to face sexual exploitation and gender-based violence and harassment and this must end.”
Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub-Saharan Africa said:
“We urge the government of South Africa to enforce laws and integrate Convention 190 to end violence and harassment in the world of work into national laws. It is appalling that crimes against women at work and in society continue to increase sometimes with perpetrators never getting arrested.”